The conflict began in November 2020 when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched a military operation in the region to overthrow the rebel authorities.
Le Monde with AFP
WHO launched a cry of alarm on Wednesday, August 17 concerning the humanitarian situation in the tiger, “the worst disaster in the world”, accusing leaders of developed countries for neglecting the crisis in this region of Ethiopia Theater of a deadly conflict between government and rebels.
The director general of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, denounced an “unimaginable cruelty” inflicted on the six million people living in this region of northern Ethiopia whose authorities are in conflict with the federal government.
The conflict began in November 2020 when Prime Minister Ethiopian Abiy Ahmed launched a military operation in the region to overthrow the rebel authorities of the Tiger from the Liberation Front of the Tiger People (TPLF), accusing them of having Attacked federal army camps.
Since the start of the conflict, the region has undergone shortages of food products and access to essential services such as electricity, telecommunications and banks has been drastically reduced.
one ” Unimaginable cruelty “
“Result: the population of the tiger is confronted with multiple epidemics of malaria, anthrax, cholera, diarrhea and other” diseases, deplored Mr. Tedros, himself from the tiger, during a press conference at Geneva.
This situation of “unimaginable cruelty must end. The only solution is peace,” said the WHO chief, calling on the Ethiopian government to resolve the conflict “in a peaceful way”. The fighting has experienced lifting since a humanitarian break was declared at the end of March, allowing the resumption of international aid convoys to the tiger.
But according to Mr. Tedros, food products and drugs only arrive in the region in the dropper. The essential services must be restored to restore confidence in view of peace negotiations, he said.
The Director General of WHO also suggested that discrimination and racism could explain the fact that the situation in the tiger extends in indifference, even if it is “the worst humanitarian crisis in the world “.
“Perhaps reason is the color of the skin of the Tigreans. In the past few months, I have heard any head of state evoke the situation in the Tiger, especially in the developed world. Why why ? I think we know it. It is the worst catastrophe in the world when I speak to you (…). It is the pure truth, “he said. The drought that affects the horn of Africa aggravates the crisis, he added.